Care Costs Down. Interest Rates Next?

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Featured Story

Southshore Residents Could See Lower Child Care Costs

As we all wait to hear news of lowering interest rates, a new state law hopes to lower child care costs for thousands of Southshore residents.

Translation, Tallahassee finally did a thing that might help parents find a spot and keep a little extra in the grocery budget. Here’s the quick scoop, no legalese, just usable info.

• The required 40-hour training for child-care workers is now free, online or in person, which means more people can qualify without paying up front.

• Hiring should move faster because background checks get pushed to the front of the line, less waiting around, and more grown-ups in classrooms.

• Preschools get relief from some municipal add-on fees, one less mystery bill for the folks running your kid’s favorite nap room.

• Employers can set up on-site centers for their own teams under a license-exempt setup, background checks still required, so more workplaces may offer spots.

• There’s a state tax credit for employers who help pay for child care, usage is ticking up this year, which is a fancy way of saying more companies are finally stepping in.

Why it matters here, more qualified staff, lower overhead, and a little nudge from employers can mean more seats and less sticker shock. It is not a magic wand, but it is a real shove in the right direction.

What you can do today, parents ask your provider if they plan to add staff or slots, employers ask your CFO about the credit or an on-site option, job seekers who love crayons and controlled chaos, that free training is your sign.

If it saves you one meltdown in the Publix cereal aisle, we’ll call it a win.

Southshore Story Time

Southshore Close Encounters

Part 2: The Humming Shell by the River

Down in Ruskin, Marco was night-fishing near Shell Point when he found a palm-sized shell that pulsed like a cat purring. When he held it up, the Alafia breeze went still, and his Apple Watch thought he’d started a workout. He brought the shell to Dotty because everyone knows she once fixed a satellite with a paperclip and a Publix receipt.
Dotty put the shell on a Lazy Susan and spun it. It always pointed toward the mouth of the bay, like it was remembering something older than HOA bylaws. She dug into local history and learned about the Tocobaga and their neighbors, chiefdoms that lived all around Tampa Bay, including Mocoso near the Alafia and Uzita near the Little Manatee. They built temple mounds and plazas, piling layers of shell and sand like a skyscraper of oysters. The shell didn’t just hum. It was homesick.

Things to do

What’s Washing Up on The Shore This Week

Southshore Spotlight

Abe Brown Ministries, Inc

inspHire is Abe Brown Ministries’ comprehensive reentry program that equips formerly incarcerated people with job-readiness training, life skills, and wraparound support to reenter the workforce and community. Individuals can apply to join, employers can partner to hire graduates, and transitional living residents complete inspHire as part of their path forward.

Nominate your local hero by emailing us at [email protected]

A Message From McBreen & Nowak P.A.

You’re in a wreck. A fender bender. A four-car pileup on I-75. The last thing you want to think about is calling an attorney. Depending on the severity, there may be more important priorities. But the question isn’t if you should call an attorney. It’s when.

A good personal injury attorney is the point guard who runs the play so you can focus on getting better. They can shield you from insurers, coordinate medical care, sort the money maze, value your claim, negotiate a fair settlement, and handle the paperwork from repair estimates to property damage releases.

Insurance adjusters don’t work for you. They work for the insurance company. You need someone who’s on your side. But the side of the road isn’t the place to start searching. Save a trusted attorney’s number in your phone or keep a card in your glove compartment. Hopefully you’ll never need it, but if you do, you’ll be glad you have it.

(813) 284-4024

We Know a Guy…Or Girl

Southshore Services

Need a painter? A plumber? Someone brave enough to tackle that lightbulb orbiting 30 feet above your living room? We’ve got you. And the best part, they’re all right here in our community.

Click here to check out our growing list of service pros.

Interested in joining the list? Shoot us an email to [email protected]

“Keep it Local!”

Foodies Only

Pa Pinones

Pa Piñones is a Puerto Rican spot in Ruskin serving mofongo, frituras, and more at 204 W Shell Point Rd.

If you’ve got a restaurant, food truck, or even a lemonade stand, it could be featured here. Email us at [email protected]

Local Sports

Football

Lennard vs Leto, Friday 9/19 @7:30 PM - Away

East Bay vs Blake, Friday 9/19 @ 7:30 PM - Home

Sumner vs Plant, Friday 9/19 @7:30 PM - Home

Riverview vs Newsome, Friday 9/19, @ 7:30 PM - Away

Spoto vs Chamberlain, Friday 9/19, @7:30 PM - Away

News or Events you’d like to share? Email us at: [email protected] 

Until next time,

Keep It Local.